Documentaries
The Key To the World
Produced by Sightell Productions
Dyslexia is a disability that has puzzled and frustrated parents,
teachers, and those who suffer from it. Contrary to popular belief,
the disorder is not simply one where letters are scrambled. It is a
physical disorder of the brain which may lead to confused
perceptions and an inability to organize thoughts. One man describes
his relief at having a diagnosis. Before it had a name, he knew only
that he was different from others.
This film introduces us to a wide range of dyslectic people, along
with their families, teachers and therapists. It concentrates on the
inroads that auditory therapy is making on the illness. Bob Roy,
Director of the Center for the Advancement of Listening and
Language, in Regina, Sasketchewan, explains the importance of the
ear's vestibular system which regulates posture, muscle tone,
balance and eye movements.
Michael, a twenty-one year old with a severe vestibular problem has
trouble expressing himself, dealing with syntax, and telling left
from right, although his intelligence is at the genius level. This
otherwise healthy, attractive young man cannot hold a job and must
be on welfare. He has begun therapy at Toronto's Listening Centre
and is hopeful, for the first time, that he can learn to cope with
his disability. A combination of therapies have been developed to
give people coping skills that may be the key to their world.
52 min. Video. Sale $350. Rental $75.
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The Foolish Wise Ones
Idiot Savants
Produced by BBC Television
A century ago a French psychologist discovered that some mentally
handicapped people possessed exceptional talents and called them
idiot savants. In this film, three such people are portrayed, giving
a fascinating glimpse into the hidden potential of the human mind.
Twenty-three-year-old Noel Patterson is autistic and is in an
institution since he requires almost constant care. From the age of
five, however, he has shown amazing musical ability. He can
reproduce flawlessly on the piano almost any music he hears, from
Bach to Elton John.
David Kidd is 28 with an I.Q. of 68 and can barely perform simple
arithmetic. Yet he has a talent that is quite unique. One has only
to mention a random date to him - past, present, or future - and he
can instantly pinpoint on which day of the week it occurred. An
expert in the recondite mathematics of calculating the calendar, Dr.
Bernard Yallop is baffled by David's talent.
Stephen Wiltshire is 11 in this film. (He is followed up in The Boy
Who Draws Buildings, see below). Although he has the mental age of a
six-year-old, he possesses the skills of a mature artist. He draws
remarkable pen and ink likenesses of famous London landmarks from
memory.
Including the commentary of two well-known psychologists, this film
provides an astonishing look at the savant syndrome.
30 min. Sale $295. Rental $55.
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The Boy Who Draws Buildings
Produced by BBC Television
This film follows Stephen Wiltshire, the autistic artist first
profiled in The Foolish Wise Ones (see above). At twelve he was
considered the best child artist in Britain, and at sixteen his
talents continue to amaze. Now he has an agent who also acts as his
protector since he still cannot be trusted to cross the street alone
safely. One can only marvel at his prodigious talents as we see his
fascination with the buildings of Venice and Moscow. At each site he
captures the most minute details of complex facades after only a few
minutes study. Often he draws from memory, back at his hotel.
Noted neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks has written at length about
Stephen. Here is an opportunity to see the young man's extraordinary
talents.
30 min. Video. Sale $295. Rental $55.
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May's Miracle
Produced by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
"'May's Miracle' is one of the finest documentaries I've ever
seen... It presents parents who never give up and thus bring their
child to a fuller life." - Rehabfilm Newsletter
"... captures the enrapturing joy he brings his parents, and savors
the vitalizing love and devotion that enfolds the family." -
Booklist (starred review)
The baby was blind, severely retarded and had cerebral palsy when
May adopted him and patiently cared for him. At 16, he could not
feed himself, stand alone or speak, yet she never gave up hope. Then
the unexplained happened. One day she found him at the piano,
picking out familiar tunes. It was thus that his rare musical talent
was discovered.
The medical term for Leslie's condition is "idiot-savant." Somewhere
in his brain exists a spark of brilliance for musical structures and
for rhythm and tone. He plays the piano with vigorous emotion and
imitates singers from the past with uncanny clarity.
May feels that what happened was a miracle, in answer to her
prayers. There is much that remains unexplained in Leslie's
remarkable achievement. But certainly May's steadfast mothering
contributed to the development of his unusual potential.
28 min. Video. Sale $295. Rental $55.
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John's Not Mad
Tourette Syndrome
Produced by Valerie Kaye
"This compassionate production creates awareness about a baffling
disorder." - Booklist
Here is a powerful documentary portrait of John, an adolescent who
suffers from a severe case of Tourette Syndrome. This neurological
disorder causes him to make involuntary sounds, including a constant
stream of profanity. He feels these words and sounds are forced out
of him, beyond his ability to exercise control. As we see in the
film, daily life is very difficult once he leaves the confines of
his home. People who pass him in the neighborhood feel that John is
verbally insulting them, since they do not understand his illness.
Normal adolescent friendships are almost impossible to sustain
because of his alienating behavior. Dr. Oliver Sacks, who appears in
the film, has spent many years studying this syndrome. He describes
its history and treatment and lends insight to John's symptoms. It
should be noted that most people with this disorder are not as
severely affected as John, who represents the extreme end of the
spectrum of Tourette Syndrome.
American Psychological Association, 1993
American Association on Mental Retardation, 1993
28 min. Video. Sale $295. Rental $55.
Copyright 1996 Filmakers Library Inc. Created by Liam Tumulty
